Machine for conditioning feathers and the like



March 27, 1956 E. R. FREDERICK ET AL MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING FEATHER-S AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTORS Edward R. Hederzblr MLCIZQQZ C. hsKOWskZ MOJtiJZ, M HQILQI. 'wlw ATTORNEY March 1956 E. R. FREDERICK ET AL 2,739,391

MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING FEATHERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E- S. 1 50.5.. I 1,. 62, t I \2 l I F a r 1019 I 4 n I r .29, i .1 1 i [4444 i :4 1 Q6? JL| {I //r171 28 "I '14 y 100 26 'i 7 H 76 I g) a 1w 7U rusuunca EIF HFEAM March 1956 E, R. FREDERICK ET AL 2,739,391

MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING FEATHERS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTORS Edward R Frederick Michael C .JmsKowsKL Martzlzz 1V. Heller.

United States Fatent Q 2,739,391 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 MACHDJE lFGR CONDITIDNING FEATHERS AND THE LIKE Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,460

13 Claims. (Cl. 34-2) This invention relates to machines for conditioning landfowl feathers and similar fibrous material to increase their filling power and improve their usefulness as fillers for cold weather garments, comforters, sleeping bags, etc.

For an explanation of the term filling power, reference may be made to the report entitled A Proposed Method for Measuring the Filling Power of Down and Feathers by Henry A. Sinski, publication No. TD

m in

Fig. 7 is a detail in horizontal section through the dust collector; and

Fig. 8 is av vertical section elevation through the machine.

The apparatus to be described includes a wet feather feeding and picking unit (shown at the right end of Fig. 1 and at the left end of Fig. 2) arranged to discharge the picked feathers into a closed chamber where the drying, cleaning, sterilizing, flufiing and electrostatic-charging are effected.

Feeding and picking assembly The feathers, which may be first dry cleaned or laundered to remove dirt, or may be first treated (with or without preliminary cleaning) with magnesium silicofiuoride (as disclosed in the E. R. Frederick application Sen-No. 287,427, filed May 12, 1952) or alternatively may be first treated with an alkali metal hydrosulphide (as disclosed in the Frederick and Jaskowski application 103037, The Ofiice of Technical Services, U. S. Departand goose feathers and which are available in huge quan- I tities) as probably the least expensive and most promising raw product for making a satisfactory filler. Some of the results of this research are disclosed in the E. R. Frederick Patent No. 2,715,086 dated August 9, 1955, wherein several ways of increasing the filling power of straight and crushed chicken feathers are described. The machine of the present invention is briefly described, but not claimed, in the E. R. Frederick Patent No. 2,714,561, dated August 2, 1955, and is referred to in the E. R. Frederick application Serial No. 287,427, filed May 12, 1952.

The general object of the invention is to provide a satisfactory machinewhich may be considered a pilot plant-for the processing of chicken and other landfowl feathers while still wet from treatments (physical and/or chemical) for increasing their filling power and making them acceptable as a relatively inexpensive substitute for the standard waterfowl down and feather mixture. Particular objects are to provide apparatus for feeding, picking, drying, cleaning, sterilizing, fluffing and electrostatically charging landfowl feathers. Other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing somewhat diagrammatically a preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

in said drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus;

Fig. 2;is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the feather-feeding mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the feather-feeding mechanism but at right angles to the section plane of Fig. 4, to show the picker in cross section; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a detail of the feather-feeding mechanism;

See the Sinski et al. Patent Ser No. 343,806, filed March 20, 1953), then are dischargedby a conveyerf(not shown) while still damp or wet into a hopper 10. Generally the feathers will have about moisture pick-up at this stage. Hopper 10 may be supported on a table 11 and is open on one side to provide a discharge throat 12 through which the damp feathers pass. Feeding of the feathers through throat 12 may be accomplished by an attendant or by a mechanical device (not shown) or by so shaping and constructing the hopper that feeding takes place principally by gravity. For the illustrative apparatus, an attendant is deemed'necessary. Immediately adjacent the throat 12 a pair of parallel feed rolls 13, 14 are mounted to rotate on horizontal axes, the bottom roll 13 having longitudinal straight grooves 15 (Fig. 4) preferably about in. deep to give a better grip on and more certain feed of the feathers. The upper roll 14 is smooth. Both rolls are about in. to V2 in. in diameter; the smaller their diameter, the greater the curl imparted to feathers which pass between them. The upper roll 14 has stub shafts or axles 16 which are loosely received in bearing blocks 17,18 so that the upper roll may move up and down relative to the lower roll 13. An upright or arm 19 is fixed at its lower end to each stub axle 16 and extends through and is slidable in a vertical bore 20 in the corresponding bearing block. Each arm 19 at its upper of table 11. Thus coil springs 24 hold the upper feed roll 14 normally in contact with the lower grooved roll 13; these springs, however, expand to permit clumps of the damp feathers to pass between the rolls.

The rolls are driven at about 60 R. P. M. or a little slower by means of a motor 25 (Fig. 2) which drives a reduction gear unit 26 in turn driving a pulley or sprocket 27 about which a. belt or sprocket chain 28 is trained. Belt or chain 28 drives a pulley or sprocket 29 fixed to the stubaxle 30 of the lower roll 13, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper feed roll 14 is driven from the lower roll occasionallyby contact therewith but usually by contact with the feathers which are picked up by the lower roll and forced by it through the pass of the rolls. The spring pressure of the upper roll on the lower is clearly essential for proper drive of the two rolls; also it obviates crushing of the feathers, as the springs will yield before exerting a crushing force on the feathers.

Located adjacent the pass of the feed rolls is a fixed curling bar 31 (Fig. 5) which is a horizontal bar having curved upper and lower edges and a straight or fiat face set about one-sixteenth of an inch from the peripheries of the feed rolls. The width-of curling bar 31 (measured vertically) .is about equal .to the diameter of the feed rolls. All feathers which pass between the feed rolls strike the fixed curling bar and pass between the rolls and-the .curling .bar; in nearly :all instances, the feathers pass between the lower roll 13 (which has atfixedaxis') and :the curling .bar, which is an abutment. The effect of this action is to impart a pronounced curl to .the

I support said chamber off the floor and alford the space feathers. "Located just beyond.theaiixedcurling :bar 31 ating with the pickerro'll is an inclined Wall or chute 3 4 arranged at untangle-91545 the horizontaland spaced a short distance fromthe outer ends of the bristles or pins 33 to provide a throat 35 down which the feathers move. The feathers, curled by their contact with the lower feed roll and the curling bar, are separated by their contact with the bristles or pins 33,.so that no clumps of feathers ass down chute 34. Obviously the effect of the picker roll is to push the feathers down the chute as well as pull them down from the curling bar-feed roll assembly.v

The axis .of the picker roll is in the same horizontal plane as the pass of the feed rolls and it is driven at the speed previously mentioned by means of a sprocket chain 36 (Fig. 5) in turn driven by a motor '37 fixed upon table 11 (Figs. '1 ,and 2).. As Fig. .5 clearly shows, the chute 34 is the lower wall of feed box '23. To give access to the interior of the feed box, a hinged door 38 is located in the top of the feed box, permitting the attendant to watch the operation or to reach in to examine the picked feathers, even while the machineis operating.

Also supported on table 11 is a blower 40 driven by another motor 4i; the blower has an intake at the bottom of the feed box'23 and has a discharge pipe or "tube 42 extending horizontally out from table 11 and leading to the drying and conditioning chamber 50. A damper 43, whichis a straight, ilatslide valve, is movable horizontally by the attendant to regulate the rate of flow of air and feathers discharged into chamber '50. Damper 43 is preferably held in adjusted position by friction."

Conditioning chamber The conditioning chamber is an insulated box-like receptacle having an inlet 51 for receiving the damp, picked feathers discharged through pipe 42, said inlet being located in end wall 52 near the lower end thereof. The bottom 53 of chamberfill supports a-steam coil 54 connected to a source of steam (not shown) as a convenient source of heat, or if preferred electric heating coils or natural gasor other' heat-source maybe employed. One of the side walls 55 has a large hingeddoor 56 (with latching means, notshown) and preferably this'door has a glass :pane as shown,-permitting theoperator to observe the operation inside-the chamber, which is illuminated. A. smaller hinged door 57, also'in side wallSS, permits the operator to .spray the interior of the chamber so as to treat the featl'lers as .desiredwithout opening the large door 56, whichwould cause a considerable loss of heat. A second end wall 58,.asecond side Wall-59 and a top wall rllicomplete the rectangularchamber.

Motulted on a horizontal shaft 61 journaled in bearings fixed to the side walls 55, 59 -is a beater or iiuffer 62 which consists .of a plurality of straight rigid arms 63 extending radially outwardly from said shaft. A sprocket 64 is fixed to shaft 161 and .a .chainfiS is trained around sprocket 64 and alsoaroundv asprocket -66 fixed to the shaft of a. motor 67. This motorn's. shown as supported by a hanger structure 68,; lepeadin g from the bottomof the rectangular chamber 50. Preferably several legs 69 n eded for motor 6.7 and other parts to he described.

The motor 67 preferably has a built-in speed reducer (not shown) or it could be a variable speed motor. Generally the beater or flufler will operate at a relatively slow speed, about 60 R. P. M. beingsatisfactory in many cases, although a speed as high as 120 R. P. M. may be attained. The arms '63 may be about .10 in. to 12 in. long and preferably are of stainless steel, as the feathers may have been treated with an acidic or an alkaline'solution prior to introduction into the chamber. The lower ends of the beater arms or pins 63 are slightly below the axis of the inlet 51, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the feathers blown in from pipe 42 will encounter the beater arms and be thrown rearwardly and upwardly, sometimes as far as the rear arcuately curved inner wall 70. Inner wall 70 is fixed inside the chamber and is spaced from the end wall 5'8 to form a generally vertical air passage or duct 71.

Also fixed within the chamber is a false bottom 72 which-is supported .50 as to be spaced above the steam coil .54 to provide another air passageway .or duct 73 whichextends the entire length of the chamber. The heat from duct73 is partly conducted through the false bottom 72 to the interior of the chamber. A blower75 driven bye motor .76 may have an intake (not shown) open to thexroom in which the machine is located; sometimes. the intake .for .blower '75 is a pipe or conduit 77 which-recirculates the air as will be explained later on. The discharge from blower 75 is conducted through a conduit '78 which leads :to an opening in end wall 58 at the end of air :duct 73. Thus aconstant flow of air, indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, moves .over the steam coil 54-01- othersource of heat, and passes through a reversely bent conduit 79 supported on the end wall 52 below discharge ;pipe 42, thence through ascreen 80 (Fig. l) fixed across a large opening in end wall 52. A baffle. 81 is fixed above screen 80 .as shown inFig. 2 to .prevent the heated air blown through said screen from interfering with the .desired circulatoryv motion .ofthe feathers in the chamber; battle 8,1 cooperates with the false bottom 72 to hold the hot air current or blast close to-the top surface of false bottom 72. As shown, the arcuate rear wall "70 merges :withthe false bottom 72 so that the air blast will move around :thearcuate wall, though with diminished force, and backalongpthe top of the chamber. It will be clear that the IeVolVing beater 62, with its closely spaced arms or pins, augments the air flow, hence the m vem nt of the ,feathersirom inlet 51 back to the areuate rear Wall .70. When the feathers reach the top of the chamber they will float down toward the heater, to be caught ,uptherebyand circulated again,-or.else the strong air currents from inlet :51 and conduit. 79 will pick up the feathers :falling down-from the top and will send them back to the rear .arcuate wall; this process repeating indefinitely while the machine is in operation. The dampest ieathers blown back against the arcuate rear wall may remain there for awhile until they dry out sufficiently to be picked up by the described air currents circulating within the chamber. i

The continuous stream of heated air discharged through conduit 79, after rising to the .top of the chamber as just described, will find .an exit through a screen 82 -lo-' cated in the top wall 60 adjacentendwall 52. -Screen-82 has a coarse mesh which will prevent movement of the feathers out of the chamber but will allow dust and featherfragments topassinto a-hox -:83.set on topjof the chamber. Asshown in Fig.,;8, screen 82 is -hinged as at 84 to permitfeathersto pass up into the box when the screen is swu g tupwardlyafter feather-conditioning is completed. A handle (not shown) on theoutsideof box 83 permits the operator to swing the screen upwardly- Box '83 has an outlet near its top with a suction duct 85 coupled thereto, a slide valve .86 bein carried bye pair of sliding rods'87 which hold the'valveiin adjusted position by frictional contact with the vertical wall of aj'iaaaoi box 83 through which said rods pass. The operator may push or pull the rods manually from outside the box to bring the valve 86 to the desired position relative to the outlet to open or close suction duct 85. A blower 8S driven by a motor 89 has its intake coupled with suction duct 85, and has its discharge side coupled with a discharge duct 90 discharging to a feather collector (not shown) which may be a porous bag or cage tied on the end of duct 90 to permit collecting of the feathers with concomitant discharge of the air to the atmosphere.

Usually it will be desirable during operation of the machine to withdraw and collect any dust created during the beating operation. This dust may arise from the product added on the feathers before being dumped into the hopper 10, or it may be dirt incompletely removed from the feathers in a prior operation, or it may be a blood product. A suction duct 91 is arranged outside chamber 50, with its intake in box 83 below the intake of suction duct 85, and with a slide valve 92 (like valve 36) to control the suction. Duct 91 extends vertically downwardly to a dust collecting chamber 93 located beneath the chamber. Chamber 93 has a series of fine screen baffies 94 located in staggered relation (Fig. 7) to cause the air flow to move in a tortuous path before leaving the chamber. The interior arrangement of the dustcollecting chamber is only partly shown because the construction is not new, and no claim is made therefor. Also coupled to the dust collector, but on the discharge side, is the suction duct 77 which leads to blower 75 as previously described. A slide valve 95 permits the operator to regulate the suction through duct 77 or to close it entirely, in which case blower 75 will be adjusted to take in atmospheric air. A discharge duct 96 is arranged to discharge the cleaned air flowing out of the duct collector directly to the atmosphere. when thisyis desired.

As shown in Fig. 2, a damper 100 is hinged adjacent a port 101 in the false bottom 72 below the passageway or duct 71 which is back of the arcuately curved inner wall 70. Damper 100 has a handle with adjusting means (not shown) to hold the damper in the desired position. When damper 100 is closed, all the air blown into the chamber by blower 75 passes over the steam coils or source of heat, but when the damper is partly open, as illustrated, some of the air from the blower will flow up through passageway 71 to the top of the chamber, thence through passage 102 to a screen 103' and through said screen to the interior of the chamber. Damper 100 obviously affords a convenient means for lowering the temperature in the chamber, as the air by-passed by damper 100 through passageway 71 will always be cooler than the air which has passed over the heat source 54.

To turn on or shut off the steam, a valve 104 is provided, and preferably a solenoid-controlled steam valve 105 is also located in the steam line to shut off the steam when the temperature in the chamber becomes too high. Ordinarily a temperature of about 150 F. has been found to be most conducive to proper conditioning of chicken feathers. With this relatively low temperature, recirculating the air as described above will not be prac ticed. But if the feathers have been impregnated with a resin prior to being fed into the machine, a higher temperature, say about 200 F., may be necessary for proper curing, and in this event the slide valve or damper 95 will be opened to permit blower 75 to take heated air from the dust collector 93, and the discharge duct 96 will be closed to the atmosphere. During treatment of the feathers in the chamber, they will be subjected to an atmosphere of ozone emanating from a pair of ozone lamps 106. An explosion-proof electric lamp 107 is also placed inside the chamber to illuminate the interior.

The several switches for controlling the lamps and well within the skill of an ordinary mechanic.

Opera tioh Treated damp feathers from hopper 10 are continu-* ously fed by-the feed rolls to the curling bar and picker roll and are curled and picked and the clumps are separated. Then the feathers move down to blower 40 which blows them through inlet 51 to the interior of the chamber. Here the feathers immediately encounter hot air entering the chamber through screen 80 and are carried by this hot air and their own momentum to the revolving beater 62. The heater throws the still damp feathers back against the arcuately curved Wall 70. Those feathers which are relativelydry will be moved up along wall 70 and-around the top of the chamber and back to the beater againgwhere they are subjected to further drying and fluffing. The circulation continues indefinitely until the entire feather contents of the chamber appear to be completely dry and highly chargedwith static electricity. When this condition is attained, the feathers will cling tenaciously to the walls of the chamber (even if the chamber is of metal and is' well grounded, as is preferred). The feathers willalso cling to the screens 2 and 1013 and to the beater arms, in fact to nearly every surface inside the chamber except the glass surfaces of the doors 56 and 57. The operator now raises screen 82 and starts the blower 88, which in conjunction with blower will cause most of the feathers to be sucked out of the chamber and into the bag or other receptacle which collects them. The feathers which remain clinging in the chamber because of their extremely high static charge may be removed by opening door 56 and inserting a vacuum tube (not shown) leading to a vacuum cell; the vacuum tube being passed over the interior surfaces of the conditioning chamber and its working parts to forcibly 'remove'th'e more obstinately-clinging (i. e., more highly charged) feathers.

We are aware of the Broel iatent No. 1,421,663 dated July 4, 1922, for a machine for handling Kapok, also we haveexamined the Klayman et al. Patent No. 1,945,296 dated January 30, 1934, for apparatus for cleaning, steaming, sterilizing, drying and flufling waterfowl feathers used in bedding. Therefore we do not claim broadly a machine for drying and flufling feathers.

We claim:

1. A machine for drying, fluifing and electrostatically charging wet landfowl feathers comprising, in combination, feather-feeding means; a substantially closed chamber into'one end of which the feather-feeding means discharges at a low point in said end; a power-driven beater rotatable about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the closed chamber, said beater having a plurality of radial arms and being so located, proportioned and rotated that said arms during rotating will strike air-borne feathers in the closed chamber and will tend to propel such feathers away from the feathered entrance and up toward the top of the chamber; a source of heat; a blower adapted to pass air over the source of heat; a duct conducting the air so heated into the chamber and discharging said air beneath the feather entrance so that the heated air stream catches the Wet feathers and propels them toward said heater; the interior of the chamber having a wall at the rear end opposite to the feather entrance end and curved so that the feathers propelled to the rear by the hot air stream and beater are guided by air currents and said curved walltoward the top of the chamber.

2. A machine for curling, drying, flufiing and electrostatically charging wet laudfowl feathers comprising, in combination, a featherhopper; a pair of cooperating feed rolls receiving feathers from the hopper; means for driving one of the feed rolls; a curling bar fixed adjacent the pass of the feed rollsand adapted to be contacted by the feathers as'they are discharged by'the feed rolls to impart a curlto the feathers; a power-driven picker roll adjacent the curling bar; a power-driven blower; ducts operatively associated with the curling bar and picker so that feathers are carried away therefrom; a substantial-- gra es;

ly closed feather-conditioning chamber into which the feathers are blown by the blower; means for delivering heated air into said closed chamber; beatewmeans for agitatingand finding feathers in saidchamber,said lbeater means cooperating with the heated air-delivering means to effect circulation of the feathers int'heclosed chamber; and a duct for-eX'hausin-g air from the :closed chamber.

3. A machine for drying, cleaning,- flufi'ing-and electrostatically charging wet landfowl feathers, comprising, in combination, a substantially closed chamber :having itwo sides, a top, two ends and a bottom; means for feeding wet feathers into one end of the machine .at a low point in saidend; blower means :for delivering -.a blast of :heated air into the same end .of :the machine .at :a ,pointdirectly below-the discharge :point .of the .wet feathers zsorthat rthe heated air blast picks up the wet feathers; a beater .in the closed chamber located directly in the :blastof heated air, said beater being rotated by power in such a direction and being so constructed :and arrarlgedasto-aidinipnd' pelling the feathers toward the opposite end of .the'clQsed chamber; intermittently operating ,suctionmeans under the control of the operator connectedat .the topof the chamber for collecting the ieathers after conditioning .is completed; and means :for collecting dust :and 1511 .1 ticles during-operation of the beateribut beforeithe feather collecting is started, the last-namedmeans including :a dust collector ;below the chanibenand a ductzleadi g from the top of the chamber to the .dustcollector.

4. The invention defined in .claim 3, wherein;the dr 1st collector has a discharge .duct discharging. the relatively dust-free air to the atmosphere; anda by-pa-ss duct controlled by a damper is also connected-t0 said discharge duct and to said blower means, .so thatthe warmandrelatively clean air discharged from the ,dust collector may be blown by the blower back into thetclosed chamber.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, whercinthe blow; er means discharges into a passageway formed by Iwalls directly beneath the closed chamber, va source of .heat being located in said passageway, the passageway extending the entire length of theclosedrchamber and giving up part of its heat by conduction through the wall separating the passageway from the .closed chamber.

6. A machine for drying, cleaning, fiufl'ing and electro statically charging wet landfowl feathers comprising, in combination, pneumatic feather-feeding means; a substantially closed chamber having walls one of which has a feather inlet into which the feather-feeding means dis charges; a power-driven beater within the closed chamber; the feather-feeding means blowing the wet-feathers against the beater; said beater including -a plurality of radial arms revolving in vertical planes and being so locatedand proportioned as to assistthe feather-feeding .meansin propulsion of the feathers to the wall of the closed chamber which is opposite the feather inlet; .a source .of heat; a blower discharging air over said source of heat; a duct receiving the heated air and discharging it into the interior of the closed chamber at a level slightly above the bottom of the chamberand adjacent the feather inlet; said last named wall being curved to direct said feathers upwardly to the :top .of the chamber; du -collectin chamber connected with the interior .of. the closed chamber; and a feather-collecting system intermittently connected with the interior of the closed chamber :under the control of the operator. 1

7. A machine for drying, flufling and electrestatically charging wet land fowl feathers comprising, incombination, a substantially closed chamber; means includinga blower for discharging wet feathers into one end of the closed chamber; a source of heatbelow theclosed chamber within a substantially horizontal air passageway; a blower adapted to blow air through said passageway; a adapted to conduct the heated .air blown through said passageway into the closed chamber, therdischarge point of said duct being adjacent the feather-discha g n l m an air passageway at the-end of the losed chBIDberQP- generally vertically to the top of the closed chamber and then along the (chef the closed chamber and having its dischargeat a point intermediate the ends of the closed chamber; and an operator-controlled damper adapted to by-pass part pr the air blown into the horizontal air passageway up through saidsecond-named air passageway and into the closed-chamber.

8. A-mach'inefor drying, huffing and electrostatically charging wet landfowl feathers comprising, in combination, a substantially closed chamber; means for discharging-the wet feathers 'intotheclo'sed chamber; means for agitating the'feathersfioating in the-air within said closed chamberya sour'eeofheatlocatedbelow the closed chamber Within-a substantiallyhorizontal air passageway; a blower adapted :to'jblow air through said "passageway; a duct 'delivering'the heatedairfrom saidpassageway to the interior'ofsaidclosed chamber; awall within said closed chamber'spaced-from one end thereof to define a substantially vertical-air passageway and a substantially horizontal-air passageway at thetop of the closed chamber, saidvert'ica'l andhorizontal air passageways communicating with each other; an operator-controlled damper adapted to by-pass part of the-air fromthe blower up into the=vertical-passageway, thence through the -horizontal-passagewayat the top rot'the closed chamber; the last-named passageway hav ing a screen to permit discharge of the :air so by passedinto the closed chamber.

=5 -A=machine rm drying, flufiing and electrostatically charging =wet landfowl feathers comprising, in combination,- 'a substantially closed generally rectangular and elongated-chamber, means for discharging wet feathers into one end-ofi the chamber; said closed chamber having a false bottom and having air heating means below the false ibottom; a blower for blowing air past the air heating means; a duct for conveying the air so heated into the chambenadjacent thelpoint of discharge of the wet featherr-s; power-driven beater means :comprising a plurality of armsfixed to ahorizontal :rotarry member :Whose axis of rotation extends rtransversely of. the closed chamber, so that the arms rotatein vertical planes parallel to the longitudinal-axis of the closed chamber, said arms being in the :stream of heated airissuing from said duct and being contacted by the: feathersdischarged into the closed chamber; means tonwithdrawing air from the top of the closed-chamber; :and;a duct fordelivering the withdrawn airztosaidhlower :for recirculation :through the machine.

:liO. A":machinc i0r,d yi g, fiufling and electrostatically charging-;.wet landfowlgvfieathers comprising, in combination, -,a;s ubstantially closed chamber; power-driven beater means in said chamberymeans including a blower for discharging :wet feathersinto said chamber and against said heater means; a source of heatyan airrduct enclosing said source .ofheat andhaving-its discharge end in a wall of said closed chamber; a blower adapted to blow air through said duct-intozsaidclosed chamber; a bypass for part:of the air-discharged by said-second-named blower, said-bypass taking the air before it has been considerably heated .and discharging it into the chamber at a point above .the bcatcrmeans; adamper forcontrolling or shutting- 1f flow-of {air through the bypass; air exhausting means, leadingzfromthe top ofthe chamber and including adnct -andamovable screen located at the inlet end of said -duct;te prevent feathers from-passing through said-duct; radust-collecting-chamber at the lower end ofthe las -me tioned duct; another duct conveying the clean air from theorist-collectingchamber to the second-named blower; .a damperfor closing the last-mentioned duct so that the blower receives the-air from the atmosphere; and

feather-collecting means including ,a duct coupled to the air exhausting means, and a blowertfor conveying =feath-' ers bysuction through the l st-named .duct after said movable screen-has been moved out of the way by the operator.

11. Mechanism for feeding wet landfowl feathers to a conditioning chamber comprising, in combination, a pair of feed rolls having parallel h orizontal axes and arranged one above the other, the lower roll being grooved; means for driving the lower roll; the upper roll being an idler roll having slide bearings and coil springs to cause it to tend to remain in contact with the lower roll, said coil springs permitting the upper roll to rise when a clump of wet feathers passes between the rolls; a horizontally extending feather-curling bar fixed to be closely adjacent the feed rolls on the discharge side thereof, said feathercurling bar presenting a vertical face toward the feed rolls so that feathers moving between the feed rolls will usually strike the vertical face of the curling bar and be bent or curled by contact therewith; a feather picker adjacent the curling bar; and conveying means to convey the feathers away from the space between the feed rolls and the curling bar.

12. The invention defined in claim 11, wherein the picker is a power-driven picker roll rotatable about a horizontal axis and located on the side of the curling bar opposite to that which faces the feed rolls; the picker roll having a multiplicity of flexible bristles or pins sticking out radially and being rotated at high speed so that it pulls the feathers down partly by the air currents set up.

13. Mechanism for feeding wet landfowl feathers to a conditioning chamber comprising, in combination, a pair of feed rolls extending horizontally and arranged one above the other; the lower roll being grooved; power means for driving the lower roll; the upper roll being a smooth surfaced idler roll held by springs yieldably against the lower roll; both rolls having diameters of about /2 in. to Vs in.; a fixed horizontal feather-curling bar having a straight flat vertical surface spaced about onesixteenth of an inch from the surfaces of the feed rolls and so located that the feathers as they emerge from the pass of the rolls must encounter said flat vertical surface; means creating a draft to pull feathers down from the space between the rolls and the curling bar; and means to convey the curled feathers away.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,659 Blossom Mar. 6, 1900 1,574,618 Gallagher Feb. 23, 1926 2,027,590 Hirsch Jan. 14, 1936 2,115,313 Matthew et a1 Apr. 26, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 334,242 Germany Mar. 14, 1921 

